GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Utica Comets 4

Jan. 14, 2015

UTICA, N.Y. – Dustin Jeffrey scored twice early in the second period as the Utica Comets posted a 4-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday night at Utica Memorial Auditorium in the first of a three-game road trip.

The North Division leaders struck first early in the second period after a scoreless first period. Jeffrey streaked towards Jared Coreau from the blue line, took a backhanded shot that was saved but Coreau’s momentum carried him left past the cage when Jeffrey recovered the rebound and scored into an open net at 1:04.

Following a penalty to Louis-Marc Aubry for goaltender interference at 2:50, Jeffrey scored his second of the night 19 seconds later when he found a loose puck that both Griffins and Comets players were battling for and poked it by Coreau.

The Griffins cut their deficit in half when Alexey Marchenko took advantage of a tripping penalty to Andrey Pedan tallied his second goal of the season when he fired a slap shot past Jacob Markstrom at 12:31. Scott Czarnowczan assisted on the 26th power play goal the Griffins scored this season.

Utica (24-8-5-0) scored an early goal again in the third period, when Alexandre Grenier screened Coreau and deflected the puck below the crossbar following a shot by Bobby Sanguinetti at 1:01.

Ryan Sproul and Andy Miele teamed to make it a one-goal game 38 seconds later for Grand Rapids (19-13-3-1). Sproul took a shot from the point toward Miele, with Miele deflecting the shot from the slot between Markstrom’s pads for his 13th goal of the season.

Markstrom made stellar saves the rest of the third period, including a point-blank save on Mark Zengerle just as the Comets killed off a penalty to Peter Andersson with under nine minutes remaining. His 26-save performance earned him the win and second star honors.

The Griffins pulled Coreau for an extra attacker with under two minutes remaining and the Comets tallied an empty netter from Carter Bancks at 19:02 following a turnover from Sproul inside the defensive zone.

Jeff Hoggan appeared to make it a one-goal result at 19:55 after Markstrom turned the puck over following a failed clear attempt, but it was overturned following review due to high sticking.

Utica played up to their fifth-best ranking on the penalty kill, as they held Grand Rapids to one goal on seven power play chances. The Comets scored twice on five power play chances.

Grand Rapids will wrap up its road trip this weekend at Hamilton. The first of a two-game set is Friday at 7:30 pm from FirstOntario Centre.

Three Stars: 1. UTI Jeffrey (two goals, assist); 2. UTI Markstrom (W, 26 saves); 3. UTI Grenier (assist)

GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 2 at Utica Comets 4

Jan. 14, 2015

UTICA, N.Y. – Dustin Jeffrey scored twice early in the second period as the Utica Comets posted a 4-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday night at Utica Memorial Auditorium in the first of a three-game road trip.

The North Division leaders struck first early in the second period after a scoreless first period. Jeffrey streaked towards Jared Coreau from the blue line, took a backhanded shot that was saved but Coreau’s momentum carried him left past the cage when Jeffrey recovered the rebound and scored into an open net at 1:04.

Following a penalty to Louis-Marc Aubry for goaltender interference at 2:50, Jeffrey scored his second of the night 19 seconds later when he found a loose puck that both Griffins and Comets players were battling for and poked it by Coreau.

The Griffins cut their deficit in half when Alexey Marchenko took advantage of a tripping penalty to Andrey Pedan tallied his second goal of the season when he fired a slap shot past Jacob Markstrom at 12:31. Scott Czarnowczan assisted on the 26th power play goal the Griffins scored this season.

Utica (24-8-5-0) scored an early goal again in the third period, when Alexandre Grenier screened Coreau and deflected the puck below the crossbar following a shot by Bobby Sanguinetti at 1:01.

Ryan Sproul and Andy Miele teamed to make it a one-goal game 38 seconds later for Grand Rapids (19-13-3-1). Sproul took a shot from the point toward Miele, with Miele deflecting the shot from the slot between Markstrom’s pads for his 13th goal of the season.

Markstrom made stellar saves the rest of the third period, including a point-blank save on Mark Zengerle just as the Comets killed off a penalty to Peter Andersson with under nine minutes remaining. His 26-save performance earned him the win and second star honors.

The Griffins pulled Coreau for an extra attacker with under two minutes remaining and the Comets tallied an empty netter from Carter Bancks at 19:02 following a turnover from Sproul inside the defensive zone.

Jeff Hoggan appeared to make it a one-goal result at 19:55 after Markstrom turned the puck over following a failed clear attempt, but it was overturned following review due to high sticking.

Utica played up to their fifth-best ranking on the penalty kill, as they held Grand Rapids to one goal on seven power play chances. The Comets scored twice on five power play chances.

Grand Rapids will wrap up its road trip this weekend at Hamilton. The first of a two-game set is Friday at 7:30 pm from FirstOntario Centre.

Three Stars: 1. UTI Jeffrey (two goals, assist); 2. UTI Markstrom (W, 26 saves); 3. UTI Grenier (assist)